The reporting period covers the sowing and early growing stages of winter barley as well as wheat, the most important cereal crop in Uzbekistan. Crop condition was generally below average, but returned to normal in January. The national average VCIx was 0.84, and the arable land fraction (CALF) increased by 19.8 percentage points compared to the five-year average. Among the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators, RAIN was very significantly above average (almost double), and TEMP and RADPAR were below average by -0.8°C and 2% respectively. This combination of factors results in a high increase in biomass potential (BIOMSS, +51%) compared to the five-year average. At the end of January, NDVI was below average in 20% of croplands, mainly in parts of Qunghirot, Altynkul, Chimbay, and Takhtakupyr provinces, as well as part of Bukhoro and Gazli provinces. NDVI was below average in parts of Quqon, Farghoma, and Namangan. Conditions were normal or above average in other regions, especially in parts of Almalyk, Angren, Samargand, Qarshi, Andijon, Namangan, and Termiz, which make up about 80% of croplands. Altogether, CropWatch assessment is that the current crop prospects for the country are optimistic. 

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI